Sand Martins at the nesting wall, RSPB Saltholme - the sun made patterns with the shadows of the birds and overhanging vegetation. And joyous to see the babies’ little faces peeping out! 🪶🐡 #birdingNorthEast @teesbirds.bsky.social

The sparrows seem very keen on the oregano in the garden - I’m not sure whether they’re hunting bugs or eating the flower buds. (Little painting from 4 years ago - available on Etsy, with any profits going to Tees Wildlife Trust) 🪶🐡 www.etsy.com/shop/EmmaPri...

Not sure if this is Welted Thistle or a more-elegant-than-usual Marsh Thistle. Looked lovely with the Wild Carrot. (RSPB Saltholme, NE England) #wildflowerHour #wildflowerID

Common Darter dragonfly (I think) in Middlesbrough today. #dragonflies #invertebrates

Any ideas who could live in a web like this? There were three, constructed round a mix of clover and yarrow in the rough grass by the car park at Saltholme (northeast England). Moths of some kind? I couldn’t see anyone inside. @teesbirds.bsky.social @teeswildlife.bsky.social #invertebrates #moths

Dragonflies and Damselflies at Saltholme, Teesside, on Monday. 🐡 #wildlife

Dragonfly/damselfly experts - does anyone know what species this is? Maybe an immature Emerald? At RSPB Saltholme, NE England. #invertebrates #damselflies

Male Wool Carder Bee, defending the Lamb’s Ears against all comers. Saltholme, this morning. #bees #invertebrates @teesbirds.bsky.social

Climbed up in the dark To pop out of the ivy - Blooming in brightness. #haikuSaturday

Someone give me a clue because I haven’t got one - mystery small bee in the garden today (northeast England.) @teesbirds.bsky.social 🐝 #invertebrates #insects #bees

Lying in the grass; Evening’s blessed coolness; Honeysuckle scent. #haikuSaturday

10 second vid -

Dolphins off Hartlepool today - at least three heading south. Also three red-throated divers offshore and lots of Small White butterflies that might possibly have some Southern amongst them? Though that’s above my level! #birdingNorthEast @teesbirds.bsky.social #marineLife #wildlife

The June buggies from the garden; the Semaphore Flies are particularly fab, as the males do exuberant dances (lots of leaping and wing flashes) to impress the females. 🐡 #invertebrates #nature

Adorable Shelducklings and other birds from Teesmouth and Seaton Carew last week. I always thought Shelducks got their name because they ate molluscs but I’ve learned that Sheld is an old word meaning variegated. Though they do eat marine snails too. 🐡🪶 @teesbirds.bsky.social #birdingNorthEast

Some things beginning with Sea…( though actually they were about 1km inland). It was lovely to see the Harbour Seal pups, but sobering to remember that not one pup born on Teesmouth last year survived - the prospect isn’t much better for these, unless something changes. #wildlife #wildflowers 🐡

Not the best photo but I think it’s a Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum)? Plus a Box Tree moth…not so great, though we don’t grow Box in the garden, so not sure where it’s come from. #invertebrates #northeastEngland 🐝🦋 @teesbirds.bsky.social

Light flickers and glints Where the hectic shoal gathers And the white birds dive. #haikuSaturday

So much going on at the moment - everyone very busy (except the snails, which doing their best to stay cool, and I can strongly empathise). Seaton Carew/North Gare last week. 🪶🐡 #wildlife #art #teesside

Sumptuous displays of orchids on Teesside this week; Bee, Pyramidal and Common Spotted but also various Marsh and/or Heath Spotted (and possibly some hybrids) which are beyond my level! But all beautiful and all different. #wildflowerHour #wildflowerID #botany

Gull dance floor - the morning after.

A white-flowered Erodium (Storksbill)at North Gare, Teesmouth today - probably Common but not sure…can anyone help? (Northeast England). #botany #wildflowers #wildflowerID

Weather map has us On the cusp of mugginess - Already mafting! #haikuSaturday

Some more photos:

I’m puzzled about this one. Maybe Heath Cudweed? Found in Middlesbrough, NE England, today. #wildflowers #wildflowerID #botany

We have a family of Wrens - four squeaky fledglings and (probably) mum trying to keep them all fed. Seems male Wrens keep busy building new nests, and courting other females! 🪶🐡 #NEbirding

Got my copy of The Birds of Budle Bay - a comprehensive survey of the birds of a beautiful area of North Northumberland, with lots of stunning photos by the author and local birders. Great reference book and lovely to look at. DM the author @budlebirder.bsky.social to buy a copy. #NEbirding 🪶

The bee waits, patient, For the love of his brief life To fall in his arms. #haikuSaturday

Looks like the ones I found last year at Hartlepool though I’ve never had the ID confirmed 🤔

Birds and bugs from the garden in May. #art #nature #wildlife 🐡